Abstract

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to assess the dietary fat intake, glucose, insulin,
Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance HOMA-IR, and endotoxin levels
and correlate them with adipokine serum concentrations in obese adolescents who had
been admitted to long-term interdisciplinary weight-loss therapy.

Design

The present study was a longitudinal clinical intervention of interdisciplinary therapy.
Adolescents (n = 18, aged 15–19 y) with a body mass index > 95th percentile were admitted
and evaluated at baseline and again after 1 year of interdisciplinary therapy. We
collected blood samples, and IL-6, adiponectin, and endotoxin concentrations were
measured by ELISA. Food intake was measured using 3-day diet records. In addition,
we assessed glucose and insulin levels as well as the homeostasis model assessment
for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results

The most important finding from the present investigation was that the long-term interdisciplinary
lifestyle therapy decreased dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels and improved HOMA-IR.
We observed positive correlations between dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels,
insulin levels, and the HOMA-IR. In addition, endotoxin levels showed positive correlations
with IL-6 levels, insulin levels and the HOMA-IR. Interestingly, we observed a negative
correlation between serum adiponectin and both dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels.

Conclusions

The present results indicate an association between dietary fat intake and endotoxin
level, which was highly correlated with a decreased pro-inflammatory state and an
improvement in HOMA-IR. In addition, this benefits effect may be associated with an
increased adiponectin level, which suggests that the interdisciplinary therapy was
effective in improving inflammatory pathways.